A new military buildup in the Balkans

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina may soon be surrounded by NATO members (source: macpixxel for GIS)

Balkan countries are beefing up their militaries

NATO and Russia are ramping up their presence in the region

Tensions over Kosovo and Macedonia are escalating

A drawdown seems unlikely anytime soon

Around the world, countries are spending more on their militaries, a trend that is already evident in the Western Balkans. In 2018, global military expenditure rose to $1.7 trillion, its highest level since the end of the Cold War. At a NATO summit in July, United States President Donald Trump insisted that the alliance should double its military spending target, from 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 4 percent. The European Union will spend more than 5 billion euros annually on funding defense research and arms acquisition through its new European Defense Fund.

These developments raise concerns about a military buildup in the region, either through hybrid warfare or new military deployments and bases.

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